Reconnecting with the Magic
- Cathy Stenquist
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
A book is a magical thing. It can take you to places you have never been— tropical islands, outer space, foreign lands— all from the safety and comfort of your own bedroom. The picture books we discover as children and the novels we read as young adults tend to stay with us and hold a very special place in our hearts.
My sister-in-law Delle and I were chatting the other day about our favorite childhood books. Hers was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and mine was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.
There was something about "Island of the Blue Dolphins" that I loved—the island setting, a young girl (probably my age) stranded there alone for a number of years, and the fact that it was based on a true story. You can read more about the real story here. This is a brief video that shares more about Karana- the lone woman of Nicholas Island.
Have you ever been fully absorbed into a book
and feel like you are there?
I tried to describe this feeling in the poem below. If I am really enjoying a novel, it is so hard for me to put the bookmark in place, close the book, and walk away. I imagine the characters frozen in time, exactly where I left them—each of them hoping I will pass by the couch again, pick up the book, and set them free. This closeness with a character is such a gift. When the lasyt page is turned, I want to feel sad that I need to leave them behind.
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For Poetry Friday this week, I chose the color:
Blue
I thought a list poem would be a good approach for this poem.
Here is a little about this form, from Poets.org.
"A list poem is a deliberately organized poem containing a list of images or adjectives that build up to describe the poem’s subject matter through an inventory of things.
List poetry, also known as catalog verse, is a widely used form and device, with roots dating back to roughly 100 AD. There is no specific rhyme scheme or meter for writing a list poem, and it often features repetition, particularly anaphora."
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One last thought...
For my husband's birthday, I tracked down a book he had talked about since we were married, An Otter's Story by Emil E. Liers. He remembered is so affectionately from his childhood. There was something special about the otter family's perspective and he had never forgotten about it. When he opened the birthday present last week, the expression on his face was priceless. That little boy, curled up on his bed reading way past "lights out," came back for an instant. But best of all, the last few days, he has been reading it nonstop and rediscovering the magic he felt as a child. Books can do that.
My husband Scott, connecting with his inner child again.
What is your favorite childhood book?
Maybe it would be fun to rediscover it as an adult.
Thank you...
to author and poet, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, for hosting this week's Poetry Friday round-up. Hope you'll stop by to get a delightful taste of some lovely and thoughtful words.
New Book Recommendations:
Be sure to check out these amazing new books by my poetry friends:
Cathy, I love your poem, which illustrates so well going through the sliding glass door of another person's perspective. You are right there with Karana. I tended to read books once and move on to the next one, but we did own a series of Happy Hollisters books, which were kind of a dorky family of mystery solvers. I did read those over and over. Your blue poem is a delight. You are going to have a crayon box anthology full of children's poems when you are done with this year.
Love the ending of your poem! My husband keeps talking about that book because he’s going to that island soon (for work). My favorite childhood book might have been Where the Red Fern Grows. Or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I love every part, Cathy, the connection poem to your favorite book, and the celebration of blue, also connecting up, and adore that ending question!. I find parents who come into the bookstore where I work look also at the older kids' books, & will urge their children to choose a favorite of theirs. It's delightful to see! A favorite of mine is The Wizard of Oz where I discovered that imagination knows no bounds! Thanks for all!
So much goodness in this post, Cathy. I can see the influence of The Island of the Blue Dolphins in your Blue poem. The first really standout book for me was Rebecca.
Cathy, I was totally immersed in the video. I nver read the Island of the Blue Dolphin. I think I will share the wonder of it with my 8-year-old grandgirl who loves to read. Add in your blue poem and I walk away with my forever love of reading and writing.